Increasing Resource Cycling Synergies: A Boost on the Net-Zero Initiative

In recent years, as global temperatures continue to set new records, the United Nations has warned that the era of global warming is coming to an end, giving way to the era of global boiling! It has become a unanimous goal across the industry to pursue effective and concrete solutions in reducing carbon emissions. ECOVE, since its establishment, has been dedicated to the cause of resource cycling. To achieve the global goal of net-zero emissions, ECOVE has consistently kept pace with international trends and aligned with government policies. In addition to continuously improving its core competencies in waste management, renewable energy, recycling& reuse, as well as electromechanical maintenance and upgrading, ECOVE strives to discover possibilities in carbon emission reduction by importing technologies and collaborative research with the academia. The outstanding synergy results in cycling circulation and net-zero achievements not only drive business growth but also allow the circular economy to make a continuous impact.

Waste Management: Enhancing Value Chain Synergies

For nearly 30 years, ECOVE has been deeply dedicated to the field of waste transportation, establishing itself as a leading waste management company in Taiwan. With a clear understanding of the characteristics of various types of waste, ECOVE is familiar with appropriate procedures in waste management and possesses extensive experience in operating various types of incinerators, including annual overhaul and upgrades. ECOVE offers a one-stop service for customers, covering upstream waste transportation, recycling, incineration (Energy from Waste, EfW), and downstream final disposal. In order to be a concrete executor of the circular economy, we continuously introduce innovative technologies, expand service synergies, and enhance the efficiency of resource recycling.

Speaking of technological innovation, ECOVE sets an example with its EfW projects, combining successful experiences and professional capabilities in EfW plant operation, intelligent data management, as well as equipment upgrades. This allows ECOVE to obtain over 30 technology patents in EfW plant systems, extending the equipment’s lifecycle commendably. Taoyuan City Biomass Center, Taiwan’s first new generation treatment plant executed by ECOVE, has undergone trial operations. The plant has achieved power generation efficiency of over 27%, surpassing traditional EfW plants by more than 30%. In addition to energy generated from incineration, the plant incorporates a cutting-edge anaerobic digestion technology to process kitchen waste with high moisture content that is unsuitable for incineration, generating biogas that can produce energy. Whether in terms of treatment technology, energy conversion efficiency, or emission standards, the plant is on par with global benchmarks. Currently, ECOVE operates a total of nine large municipal EfW plants in Taiwan and two in Macau, converting approximately 2.5 million tons of waste into energy annually and replacing 550,000 tons of fossil fuels. This positions ECOVE as a stable contributor of renewable energy to the domestic power base load.

By allocating a location for the Changhua Coastal Low-carbon Resource Cycling Center, ECOVE aims to enhance its service synergies by targeting the downstream final disposal market, disposing of an estimated 300,000 tons of inorganic waste annually. Additionally, a portion of the allocated land will be designated for a recycling and reuse facility for waste solar panels in the future.

In terms of domestic business expansion, ECOVE encounters problems such as the aging of EfW facilities, decreased processing capacity, and the increasing demand for modern EfW plants that can generate power and reduce emissions.

By collaborating with CTCI Corporation, ECOVE managed to leverage the strong EPC capability of its parent group. Together, the dual secured the Green Energy Sustainable Circulation Center BOT Project in Chiayi, nominated as the best preferred applicant. As for global projects, in alignment with the government’s Southbound Policy, ECOVE collaborates with local developers to export its rich experience in waste management and EfW to global markets. ECOVE has successfully become the most preferred applicant for the Malacca EfW plant project in collaboration with a Malaysian partner, and the contract signing is slated for the near future.

Renewable Energy: Enhancing a Diverse Resource Landscape

Under the surging global demand for green energy, as forecasted by the International Energy Agency (IEA), photovoltaics is expected to become the world’s largest energy source by 2027. With ownership and operation of over a hundred solar plants worldwide, ECOVE holds 100% ownership and operational rights, making it one of the few domestic entities capable of offering one-stop services encompassing development, investment, construction, operation, and green energy trading. Currently, the total installed capacity of solar power plants reaches 162MW, with a total maintenance capacity of 484MW.

The need to address intermittent power generation issues in photovoltaics through the integration of renewable power and energy storage systems has gained global attention. Responding to this trend, ECOVE actively participated in Power Ancillary Services, where the government involves private sectors in providing power grid services. This has enabled ECOVE to successfully expand its services into the energy storage sector, exemplified by the 5MW energy storage system in Nantou Industrial Park, which connected to the grid in the fourth quarter last year. This system actively participates in Taipower’s auto frequency control (AFC) reserve services. 

Another notable project is the photovoltaic storage system in Southern Taiwan Science Park, integrating photovoltaics, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle charging stations into a comprehensive energy management system. Solar power is directly supplied to charge electric vehicles, with excess energy stored in the battery system for backup, providing high-quality charging services throughout the day.

In terms of electricity retailing, a growing demand for green energy is evident, driven by the green energy commitments made by corporations and energy-heavy industries. ECOVE has signed green energy PPA with the government and corporations, with the current supply capacity at approximately 16MW and the transaction volume estimated to steadily grow. By supplying clean electricity to institutions or companies to meet their green energy needs, ECOVE assists them in achieving their net-zero goals.

Regarding domestic business expansion, ECOVE is actively investing in and developing photovoltaic projects in line with the government's policy to achieve a 20GW photovoltaic installed capacity by 2025. Internationally, after the 100% ownership of the Lumberton photovoltaic plant in New Jersey, USA, ECOVE has strengthened its collaboration with the state by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on renewable energy procurement with the New Jersey Institute of Technology last year, establishing a robust relationship. In the future, the company will continue to capitalize on the local advantages of its group subsidiary, CTCI Americas, actively pursuing the second-phase expansion of the Lumberton plant. Simultaneously, ECOVE will explore additional investment opportunities with the aim of becoming a major player in large-scale photovoltaic and energy storage investments in the United States.

Recycling: Maximizing Resource Efficiency

In the wave of the circular economy, Taiwan has unveiled its Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050, with Resource Cycling and Zero Waste being one of the 12 key strategies guiding the green transition of industries. ECOVE is dedicated to maximizing the efficiency of every resource, and two major projects have been promoted in recent years: the treatment of waste solvent produced by the booming high-tech industry, as well as the recycling and reuse of water resources.

For the waste solvents generated by the high-tech industry, ECOVE has obtained multiple patents for the recycling and reuse of waste isopropyl alcohol (IPA). In 2023, the company supplied the market with around 3,500 tons of industrial-grade IPA processed from recycled waste IPA. Currently, the company is actively engaged in research and development for electronic-grade IPA, achieving purity levels of up to 99.9% or higher. The aim is to introduce these high-purity products to high-tech manufacturing facilities. To expand its services, ECOVE is collaborating with academic institutes in the development of technology that allows waste edge bead remover (EBR) to be reutilized in electronic-grade functions.

Regarding the recycling of water resources, ECOVE has expanded its operational scope from industrial wastewater and municipal sewage treatment to the reclamation of wastewater generated by the electronic industry. An example is the Southern Taiwan Science Park Water Reclamation Plant, which ECOVE has recently become responsible for its operation after construction has been completed by CTCI. This plant is the world's first water reclamation facility using innovative green technology to successfully regenerate industrial wastewater, making it suitable for reuse in the semiconductor manufacturing process. ECOVE has received high praise from customers for meeting both stability and cleanliness standards in water supply. Looking ahead, ECOVE aims to secure investment, operation, and management projects for wastewater treatment plants and desalination plants. Furthermore, in response to the circular economy driven by the electronic industry boom, ECOVE is integrating recycling services from various categories to establish a zero-waste manufacturing center and provide subsequent operational and maintenance services.

Electromechanical Maintenance and Upgrading: Expanding Diverse Service Scope

With nearly 30 years of experience in investment, operation, supervision, management, annual overhaul, and system upgrades for over 30 EfW plants, both domestically and internationally, ECOVE is well-acquainted with the various characteristics of waste treatment facilities. By incorporating the concepts of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the circular economy, ECOVE provides clients with well-planned, efficient, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly refurbishments, thereby extending the lifespan of the facilities. Recently, ECOVE has undertaken customized refurbishment projects for multiple incineration plants, including those in Tainan, Xizhou, Gangshan, the Southern Taiwan Science Industrial Park Resource Recycling Center, and Taoyuan Airport, breathing new life into aging facilities.

Under the influence of the circular economy, high-tech industries are investing in building their own reutilization systems with the goal of reducing capacity and waste. In response to the growing demand, ECOVE has leveraged its successful experience with the proprietary waste IPA recovery plant and extended its services to include facility installation, considering the concept of LCA. By tailoring solutions, ECOVE assists numerous domestic entities in establishing their waste solvent recovery systems. This approach not only reduces carbon emissions generated during waste transportation but also optimizes the use of materials and energy, effectively lowering carbon emissions in the reutilization process.

Railway construction plays a crucial role in Taiwan's future development, with high-tech industries serving as pivotal contributors to economic growth. In line with contemporary needs, ECOVE has expanded its service scope to include electromechanical maintenance in the high-tech and transportation sectors, garnering praise for projects such as utility systems for high-tech industries, the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit, core electromechanical systems for the Danhai Light Rail Transit, and equipment for boarding bridges at Terminal 1 of Taoyuan Airport. Looking ahead, ECOVE will focus on dynamic testing for rail construction and explore opportunities related to subsequent electromechanical equipment maintenance, aligning with the Group’s strategy to expand into the high-tech industry. This involves pursuing opportunities in maintenance, operation, and refurbishment services for utilities such as water, gas, and electricity. ECOVE aims to continually broaden its scope of electromechanical maintenance services.

Sustainability in Action: Increasing the Impact on Circular Economy

The 2050 net-zero goal needs to be supported by continuous efforts from all sectors, and ECOVE stands out as a reliable practitioner of the circular economy. By engaging in diversified business operations and maximizing synergies, ECOVE aims to collaborate with clients in contributing to a sustainable Earth, thereby expanding the influence of the circular economy.